8 Best Breweries to Visit in America

With more than 3,000 breweries in the U.S., beer adventures await, with brewery tours and tastings at every turn!

By Michael Pomranz

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Most of us realize we’ve seen a beer boom in our lifetime, but what you may not realize is the extent to which America’s brewing scene has grown. In 1978, only 44 breweries existed in the entire United States, according to the Beer Institute. By 2012, that number had climbed to 2,751 …and it’s continued to grow since.

Not only does this mean you have thousands (upon thousands) of new beers to try, but also that beer-related adventures await, with brewery tours and tastings at every turn!

Stopping by to say “hi” to over 3,000 brewers is nearly impossible, so we picked eight of the best across the country (from east to west) that offer the most interesting tours, generous tastings, and more >>

Allagash Brewing Company

Portland, Maine

Even though different brews can be unique as a snowflake, breweries themselves can feel as mundane as a factory, so you want to seek out breweries with unique features. "While most breweries operate pretty similar equipment (if you've seen one shiny vessel, you've seen 'em all), I love visiting a brewery where the beer is also aged in wooden barrels,” says Joshua M. Bernstein, author of The Complete Beer Course. ”The Allagash barrel room always blows me away." Tours of the Allagash Brewery are available Monday – Saturday, last about an hour and include “a guided tasting of four beers.” Reservations are recommended, but tickets are free.

Sam Adams Brewery

Boston, Massachusetts

For years, Sam Adams was synonymous with well-crafted American beers, and despite the company’s growth, they still attempt to honor their roots. That mindset can be seen in their brewery tours which are extensive and frequent. The one hour experience looks into the history of Sam Adams – the man and the brewery – shows off the brewing process and, like any good tour, ends with a sampling. Tours run Monday – Saturday every 45 minutes. Cost is only a $2 donation which benefits local charities.

Yuengling Brewery

Pottsville, Pennsylvania

If you really love history, stop by the Yuengling Brewery. Billed as “America’s Oldest Brewery,” six generations of the Yuengling family have worked there, keeping the place running since 1829. Highlights include an opportunity to tour hand-dug fermentation caves that were used for storage before refrigeration. The free tours run Monday – Saturday, and last about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Budweiser Brewery

St. Louis, Missouri & other locations throughout the country

It’s ain’t called the “King of Beers” for nothing. Though Budweiser isn’t turning any heads from beer snobs, the company’s success is undeniable and the history of their growth surprisingly interesting. In fact, as smaller breweries continue to pop up everywhere, seeing such a massive facility with so much historical context is a unique experience. Plus you get a chance to see the Budweiser Clydesdales. Horsies! Free tours run regularly throughout the week, and more extensive paid tours can be found on the company website.

New Belgium Brewing

Fort Collins, Colorado

Boasting beautiful facilities in lovely Fort Collins, Colorado, New Belgium’s “live story-telling, beer-sampling, art-gazing fun” as they call the tour has earned universal praise. And with a focus on sustainability, people who appreciate living green will learn how a brewing facility can also be environmentally friendly. New Belgium runs tours all day, almost every day (except Mondays), but they book up fast so make sure to reserve your spot on the free tour well in advance.

Stone Brewing Company

Escondido, California

For a complete indulgence of all your faculties, Stone Brewing offers a wide-ranging experience. The tours, run by “Indoctrination Specialists,” are witty; the grounds are gorgeous, featuring a lovely boulder garden; and the restaurant serves up amazing food. Plus, not only can you taste Stone’s fantastic (and typically very hoppy) selection of beers, they also feature rotating taps from other brewers they admire. It’s a beer drinker’s paradise. The 45 minute tours run throughout the week at least four times a day. Tickets are just $3 and can be purchased only on the day of your tour.

Anchor Brewing

San Francisco, California

Many breweries use similar equipment because they have similar methods of brewing. But San Francisco’s Anchor has continued to buck that trend. The company has been around since 1896 and continued to use traditional brewing methods, most notably those used for their famous Anchor Steam beer, which is brewed in open-air fermenters. Touring the brewery is a unique, first-hand way to learn about this unique beer with so much history. You must have a reservation to go on their 90 minutes tour. The cost is $15.

Whichever Brewery Is Closest to You!

An important tenet of the craft beer movement is that more beer should be enjoyed locally and drinkers should support their local breweries. Believe it or not, even science agrees that many beers taste best the sooner you drink them. The oils and acids in hops breakdown over time, so hoppy beers like pale ales and IPAs lose their flavor and aroma the longer they sit on a shelf… or take to get shipped to you.

With so many new brewers across the United States, you’re almost guaranteed to find one near you. Most of them can’t wait to show off their latest creations. Just be sure to check beforehand as many smaller breweries are open less frequently than the big boys. And it never hurts to find out what you’re getting into. Joshua M. Bernstein recommends, “For me, I like a brewery tour that starts with a sample of beer – the very reason I come to visit a brewery." Need some help finding brews near youse? CraftBeer.com has a “find a brewery” page!